Yuletide Defender by Sandra Robbins

Author:Sandra Robbins
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Merry Christmas, Rachel. Your present from me will arrive soon.

Santa

Rachel staggered backward and grabbed the door for support. Her eyes skimmed over the mirror once more before she screamed and bolted from the bathroom.

Matt’s thoughts centered on the evening he’d spent with Rachel as he drove toward home. Even with his conflicting feelings, he’d enjoyed the time they’d spent at her apartment and he looked forward to taking her to church.

The Christian music station he was listening to on the radio began to play one of his favorite songs and he leaned over to turn up the volume. His fingers tapped a drumbeat on the steering wheel as he listened.

The ring tone of his cell phone blared, the sound competing with the music from the radio. He pulled it from his pocket and stared at the caller ID. Dispatch? With a sigh he hoped he wasn’t being called out on a homicide tonight. With Philip sick, he didn’t look forward to working a case alone.

“Hello.”

“Matt, this is Jason at dispatch. We received a call I thought you might be interested in.”

Matt’s eyebrows lifted. “What is it?”

“It’s that newspaper reporter you and Philip went to see at the Beacon. Rachel Long.”

His body stiffened. “Rachel? What about her?”

“She just called hysterical. Said somebody’s been in her apartment. We’ve sent two patrol cars over there, but I thought you might want to follow up with her tomorrow.”

Matt glanced in front and behind him for cars but spotted none. After a U-turn in the middle of the street, he headed in the direction he’d just come. “Thanks for letting me know, Jason.”

He wished he had a siren but he didn’t have one in this car. Praying that he wouldn’t be stopped for speeding, he accelerated and sped down the street. It seemed forever before Rachel’s apartment building came into view.

His tires squealed to a stop at the front door. He was out of the car and into the building in a flash. When the elevator doors didn’t open immediately after he pushed the button, he turned and ran to the stairs. Racing up the three flights, he burst through the door onto Rachel’s floor and ran down the hallway to her apartment. He banged on the closed door. A uniformed police officer opened it immediately. He pushed past the man and strode inside.

Rachel was hunched on the couch, her elbows on her knees and her hands covering her eyes. The two officers who stood in front of her turned in his direction as he entered the room. The older of the two frowned. “Detective Franklin, what are you doing here?”

Rachel jerked to attention and shot to her feet. Matt didn’t know who took the first step, but suddenly she was in his arms, her body trembling and her arms wrapped around his neck. Her cheek rested on his shoulder and he wrapped her in a protective embrace.

“It’s all right,” he whispered. “Tell me what happened.”

She pulled back a little, took him by the hand and led him to the bathroom.

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